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Toowoomba vs Western Downs

Name: Toowoomba vs Western Downs — 2021 Census comparison
Creator: Australian Bureau of Statistics
License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Council (LGA) comparison ≈ 141 km apart · Toowoomba profile · Western Downs profile

Toowoomba Western Downs

Toowoomba and Western Downs are two distinct Queensland regions. Toowoomba is a much more urbanised hub, where 54.1% of homes are within a 15-minute walk of public transport and the walkability score is somewhat walkable. In contrast, Western Downs is mostly car-dependent, with no homes within a 10-minute walk of public transport. Education levels are also higher in Toowoomba, where 51.5% of people completed Year 12 compared to 41.2% in Western Downs. This is consistent with a more qualified workforce in Toowoomba, where 19% of adults hold a bachelor degree or higher, compared to 10.8% in Western Downs.

Both areas share a very similar typical household income, with Toowoomba at $1,461 and Western Downs at $1,374 per week. They also have the same number of people per home, at 2.5. While they share these basic economic traits, other gaps have grown since 2011. The difference in Year 12 completion has widened, and Toowoomba has seen a growing lead in the share of people born overseas and those using another language at home.

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Where they differ most

Population: 139,361 larger in Toowoomba Year 12: 10.3 pts higher in Toowoomba Bachelor+: 8.1 pts higher in Toowoomba Limited English: 1.3 pts higher in Toowoomba De facto: 2.4 pts higher in Western Downs

Demographics & Identity

Population in Toowoomba in Western Downs +139,361 larger in Toowoomba gap widening

173,204 87th pct 33,843 68th pct

Median age in Toowoomba in Western Downs +1 yrs older in Toowoomba gap widening

39 yrs 33rd pct 38 yrs 29th pct

Age structure

23.9% Older adults (45–64) +1.1 pts ▸ 25.1%

24.4% Young adults (25–44) +0.4 pts ▸ 24.7%

19.6% Children (0–14) +1.8 pts ▸ 21.4%

19.5% Seniors (65+) ◂ +2.4 pts 17.1%

12.6% Youth (15–24) ◂ +0.9 pts 11.7%

Marital status

48.2% Married ◂ +2.0 pts 46.2%

33.3% Never married +1.7 pts ▸ 35.0%

9.1% Divorced ◂ +0.2 pts 8.8%

5.8% Widowed ◂ +0.1 pts 5.6%

3.6% Separated +0.7 pts ▸ 4.3%

Age & sex structure

Toowoomba Western Downs

Bars show the share of each area's own population, so differently sized areas stay comparable.

Ancestry & Birthplace

Country of birth

80.7% Australia +1.2 pts ▸ 81.9%

1.9% England ◂ +0.7 pts 1.2%

0.9% Philippines +0.6 pts ▸ 1.5%

1.4% New Zealand ◂ +0.1 pts 1.4%

1.1% India ◂ +0.8 pts 0.3%

0.6% South Africa ◂ +0.1 pts 0.5%

0.4% Nepal ◂ +0.4 pts 0.1%

0.4% China ◂ +0.3 pts 0.1%

0.1% Vietnam even 0.1%

0.1% Italy even 0.0%

Ancestry

38.5% Australian +4.3 pts ▸ 42.9%

38.8% English ◂ +1.0 pts 37.8%

12.6% Irish ◂ +2.2 pts 10.4%

10.9% Scottish ◂ +1.4 pts 9.5%

10.8% German ◂ +2.0 pts 8.8%

1.2% Filipino +0.5 pts ▸ 1.7%

1.6% Italian ◂ +0.5 pts 1.1%

1.4% Dutch ◂ +0.3 pts 1.0%

1.3% Chinese ◂ +0.8 pts 0.5%

1.2% Indian ◂ +0.8 pts 0.4%

0.2% Greek ◂ +0.1 pts 0.1%

0.1% Vietnamese ◂ +0.1 pts 0.1%

Language

Language used at home

85.5% English only +0.6 pts ▸ 86.1%

0.7% Mandarin ◂ +0.6 pts 0.1%

0.4% Tagalog +0.2 pts ▸ 0.6%

0.5% Arabic ◂ +0.5 pts 0.0%

0.4% Punjabi ◂ +0.3 pts 0.1%

0.2% Hindi ◂ +0.1 pts 0.1%

0.1% Cantonese ◂ +0.1 pts 0.1%

0.1% Vietnamese even 0.1%

0.1% Italian even 0.0%

0.0% Greek even 0.0%

Religion

Religious affiliation

55.9% Christianity +1.0 pts ▸ 56.9%

32.1% No religion ◂ +1.4 pts 30.6%

7.1% Not stated +4.2 pts ▸ 11.3%

1.9% Other religions ◂ +1.6 pts 0.3%

1.2% Hinduism ◂ +0.9 pts 0.3%

0.9% Buddhism ◂ +0.6 pts 0.3%

0.8% Islam ◂ +0.6 pts 0.2%

0.0% Judaism even 0.0%

Education & Qualifications

Schools in Toowoomba in Western Downs +56 more in Toowoomba

88 88th pct 32 82nd pct

Schools/1k kids in Toowoomba in Western Downs +1.82 more in Western Downs

2.60 33rd pct 4.42 57th pct

Students in Toowoomba in Western Downs +25,331 more in Toowoomba

31,688 87th pct 6,357 70th pct

Avg size in Toowoomba in Western Downs +155 larger in Toowoomba

360 68th pct 205 46th pct

ICSEA in Toowoomba in Western Downs +57 higher in Toowoomba

1,005 70th pct 948 35th pct

Highest year of school

51.5% Year 12 ◂ +10.3 pts 41.2%

24.7% Year 10 +3.1 pts ▸ 27.8%

11.1% Year 9 or below +1.9 pts ▸ 12.9%

6.0% Year 11 +0.5 pts ▸ 6.4%

Highest qualification level

33.8% Certificate III / IV +4.1 pts ▸ 37.9%

21.9% Bachelor degree ◂ +6.2 pts 15.7%

14.7% Advanced diploma / diploma ◂ +2.3 pts 12.4%

6.4% Postgraduate degree ◂ +4.6 pts 1.8%

2.8% Certificate I / II +0.9 pts ▸ 3.7%

3.6% Graduate diploma / certificate ◂ +1.6 pts 2.0%

Field of qualification

14.6% Engineering & related +2.5 pts ▸ 17.1%

16.1% Management & commerce ◂ +2.1 pts 14.0%

12.8% Health ◂ +4.7 pts 8.1%

11.8% Society & culture ◂ +3.6 pts 8.2%

9.8% Education ◂ +1.1 pts 8.6%

3.5% Agriculture & environment +2.8 pts ▸ 6.3%

5.8% Food, hospitality & personal services ◂ +0.2 pts 5.6%

5.2% Architecture & building ◂ +0.7 pts 4.5%

2.3% Creative arts ◂ +1.2 pts 1.1%

1.8% Natural & physical sciences ◂ +0.8 pts 1.0%

1.8% Information technology ◂ +0.8 pts 0.9%

Income

Personal income in Toowoomba in Western Downs +$27 higher in Toowoomba gap widening

$743 50th pct $716 43rd pct

Household income in Toowoomba in Western Downs +$87 higher in Toowoomba gap widening

$1,461 56th pct $1,374 48th pct

Family income in Toowoomba in Western Downs +$134 higher in Toowoomba gap widening

$1,847 55th pct $1,713 44th pct

Household income distribution

30.3% $650–$1,499 ◂ +0.3 pts 30.0%

29.9% $1,500–$2,999 ◂ +1.9 pts 28.0%

17.1% Under $650 +1.6 pts ▸ 18.7%

8.2% $3,000–$3,999 ◂ +1.3 pts 6.9%

6.9% $4,000 or more ◂ +0.6 pts 6.3%

Personal income distribution

41.6% Under $650 ◂ +0.8 pts 40.9%

33.3% $650–$1,499 ◂ +3.0 pts 30.2%

15.5% $1,500–$2,999 ◂ +1.3 pts 14.2%

2.7% $3,000 or more +0.1 pts ▸ 2.8%

Health & Disability

Long-term health conditions reported

10.9% Mental health ◂ +1.1 pts 9.8%

10.7% Arthritis ◂ +1.2 pts 9.5%

9.9% Asthma +0.3 pts ▸ 10.2%

8.9% Other condition ◂ +1.7 pts 7.2%

5.2% Diabetes +0.2 pts ▸ 5.4%

4.9% Heart disease ◂ +0.4 pts 4.4%

3.4% Cancer ◂ +0.4 pts 3.0%

2.1% Lung condition even 2.1%

1.1% Stroke even 1.1%

0.9% Dementia ◂ +0.3 pts 0.6%

Number of long-term health conditions

59.5% None ◂ +2.2 pts 57.3%

20.9% One condition ◂ +1.4 pts 19.4%

7.3% Two conditions ◂ +0.6 pts 6.7%

4.2% Three or more ◂ +0.1 pts 4.1%

Community Participation

First Nations

First Nations people in Toowoomba in Western Downs +6,092 larger in Toowoomba

8,677 90th pct 2,585 85th pct

Median age in Toowoomba in Western Downs even

20 yrs 7th pct 20 yrs 7th pct

Median income in Toowoomba in Western Downs +$59 higher in Toowoomba

$587 59th pct $528 43rd pct

Household income in Toowoomba in Western Downs +$119 higher in Toowoomba

$1,458 59th pct $1,339 46th pct

Family & Households

Household size in Toowoomba in Western Downs even gap narrowing

2.5 71st pct 2.5 71st pct

Family composition

53.6% Couples with children +0.3 pts ▸ 53.9%

29.6% Couples without children ◂ +1.1 pts 28.6%

15.6% One-parent families +0.7 pts ▸ 16.3%

1.1% Other families +0.1 pts ▸ 1.2%

Household size

36.2% 2 people ◂ +0.4 pts 35.8%

27.4% 1 person ◂ +0.2 pts 27.2%

14.0% 3 people ◂ +0.5 pts 13.5%

12.6% 4 people ◂ +0.1 pts 12.5%

6.1% 5 people +0.6 pts ▸ 6.7%

3.6% 6 or more +0.6 pts ▸ 4.2%

Housing & Dwellings

Rent in Toowoomba in Western Downs +$60 higher in Toowoomba gap widening

$300 63rd pct $240 43rd pct

Mortgage in Toowoomba in Western Downs +$217 higher in Toowoomba gap steady

$1,517 57th pct $1,300 43rd pct

People / bedroom in Toowoomba in Western Downs even gap steady

0.80 43rd pct 0.80 43rd pct

How homes are owned or rented

32.6% Owned outright +1.3 pts ▸ 33.9%

32.1% Owned with a mortgage ◂ +4.6 pts 27.5%

31.8% Rented +0.2 pts ▸ 32.1%

2.1% Other tenure +2.5 pts ▸ 4.6%

1.4% Not stated +0.5 pts ▸ 2.0%

Types of homes

82.7% Separate house +7.5 pts ▸ 90.2%

13.0% Townhouse / semi-detached ◂ +5.6 pts 7.5%

3.7% Flat or apartment ◂ +2.8 pts 0.8%

0.4% Other dwelling +0.7 pts ▸ 1.1%

Bedrooms per home

40.9% 3 bedrooms +0.1 pts ▸ 41.1%

32.0% 4 bedrooms +0.5 pts ▸ 32.5%

15.7% 2 bedrooms ◂ +2.9 pts 12.8%

7.0% 5 or more +0.5 pts ▸ 7.5%

2.8% 1 bedroom +0.7 pts ▸ 3.5%

0.3% Studio / none +0.4 pts ▸ 0.7%

Weekly rent distribution

56.6% $200–$349 +4.6 pts ▸ 61.2%

27.2% $350–$549 ◂ +21.0 pts 6.1%

11.5% Under $200 +14.4 pts ▸ 25.8%

1.4% $550–$749 ◂ +1.2 pts 0.2%

0.3% $750 or more ◂ +0.2 pts 0.1%

Monthly mortgage distribution

43.5% $1,000–$1,799 ◂ +5.7 pts 37.9%

19.3% Under $1,000 +13.1 pts ▸ 32.4%

24.9% $1,800–$2,999 ◂ +8.6 pts 16.3%

7.1% $3,000 or more ◂ +0.6 pts 6.6%

Transport & Vehicles

PT stops in Toowoomba in Western Downs +652 more in Toowoomba

652 86th pct 0 0th pct

Stops/1k in Toowoomba in Western Downs +3.76 more in Toowoomba

3.76 56th pct 0.00 0th pct

Departures/1k in Toowoomba in Western Downs +327.8 more in Toowoomba

327.8 66th pct 0.0 0th pct

PT routes in Toowoomba in Western Downs +8 more in Toowoomba

8 52nd pct 0 0th pct

Drive to city in Toowoomba in Western Downs

119 84th pct —

How people get to work

69.0% Car (driver) ◂ +7.3 pts 61.7%

8.4% Worked at home +4.1 pts ▸ 12.5%

5.6% Car (passenger) ◂ +0.1 pts 5.5%

2.8% Walked +2.4 pts ▸ 5.2%

0.3% Bus +1.0 pts ▸ 1.3%

0.5% Bicycle even 0.5%

0.0% Train even 0.0%

Motor vehicles per home

37.9% 2 vehicles ◂ +1.3 pts 36.6%

35.5% 1 vehicle ◂ +2.8 pts 32.7%

13.3% 3 vehicles +3.0 pts ▸ 16.3%

7.8% 4 or more +2.2 pts ▸ 10.0%

5.4% No vehicle ◂ +1.0 pts 4.5%

Migration & Movement

Jobs & Industry

Industries people work in

18.4% Health care & social assistance ◂ +9.5 pts 8.9%

5.9% Agriculture, forestry & fishing +12.5 pts ▸ 18.4%

10.8% Education & training ◂ +2.6 pts 8.1%

9.1% Retail trade +0.4 pts ▸ 9.5%

8.4% Construction +0.2 pts ▸ 8.6%

6.8% Manufacturing ◂ +2.0 pts 4.8%

6.0% Accommodation & food ◂ +0.1 pts 5.9%

5.8% Public administration & safety ◂ +0.6 pts 5.2%

4.6% Professional & technical ◂ +1.6 pts 3.0%

3.9% Transport & warehousing +0.3 pts ▸ 4.1%

4.1% Other services ◂ +0.3 pts 3.8%

1.5% Mining +2.4 pts ▸ 3.8%

Occupations people work in

19.7% Professionals ◂ +8.2 pts 11.5%

12.0% Managers +7.3 pts ▸ 19.2%

14.5% Technicians & trades +1.0 pts ▸ 15.4%

11.5% Labourers +3.4 pts ▸ 14.9%

13.4% Community & personal service ◂ +4.2 pts 9.2%

12.4% Clerical & administrative ◂ +1.6 pts 10.8%

6.4% Machinery operators & drivers +3.1 pts ▸ 9.5%

8.4% Sales workers ◂ +0.7 pts 7.7%

Economy & Advantage

IRSAD decile in Toowoomba in Western Downs +3 higher in Toowoomba

6 57th pct 3 29th pct

IRSD decile in Toowoomba in Western Downs +3 higher in Toowoomba

6 57th pct 3 29th pct

IER decile in Toowoomba in Western Downs +2 higher in Toowoomba

6 57th pct 4 36th pct

IEO decile in Toowoomba in Western Downs +4 higher in Toowoomba

7 64th pct 3 29th pct

IRSAD score in Toowoomba in Western Downs +37 higher in Toowoomba

959 55th pct 922 27th pct

ERP in Toowoomba in Western Downs +150,824 higher in Toowoomba

186,276 87th pct 35,452 67th pct

Growth in Toowoomba in Western Downs +3.1 pts higher in Toowoomba

6.3% 72nd pct 3.2% 46th pct

Businesses in Toowoomba in Western Downs +12,780 higher in Toowoomba

17,994 86th pct 5,214 74th pct

Approvals in Toowoomba in Western Downs +826 higher in Toowoomba

890 86th pct 64 53rd pct

Environment & Climate

Rainfall in Toowoomba in Western Downs +111 higher in Toowoomba

662 52nd pct 551 38th pct

Max temp in Toowoomba in Western Downs +2.4 higher in Western Downs

26.0 66th pct 28.4 79th pct

Min temp in Toowoomba in Western Downs +1.3 higher in Western Downs

11.2 51st pct 12.5 66th pct

Crime & Safety

Crime rate in Toowoomba in Western Downs +4,581 higher in Western Downs

11,667 71st pct 16,249 86th pct

Assault/100k in Toowoomba in Western Downs +202 higher in Western Downs

947 48th pct 1,149 60th pct

Sexual/100k in Toowoomba in Western Downs +48 higher in Western Downs

304 61st pct 352 73rd pct

Robbery/100k in Toowoomba in Western Downs +38 higher in Toowoomba

55 85th pct 18 37th pct

Burglary/100k in Toowoomba in Western Downs +38 higher in Western Downs

843 77th pct 881 78th pct

Theft/100k in Toowoomba in Western Downs +492 higher in Western Downs

2,129 78th pct 2,621 87th pct

Vehicle theft/100k in Toowoomba in Western Downs +111 higher in Western Downs

312 45th pct 423 59th pct

Property damage/100k in Toowoomba in Western Downs +282 higher in Western Downs

762 52nd pct 1,043 72nd pct

Drugs/100k in Toowoomba in Western Downs +524 higher in Western Downs

1,755 86th pct 2,278 89th pct

5-yr change in Toowoomba in Western Downs +18.2 pts higher in Toowoomba

21.3% 68th pct 3.1% 41st pct

Walkability

Walk score in Toowoomba in Western Downs +2.2 higher in Toowoomba

4.4 65th pct 2.2 14th pct

Types ≤15 min in Toowoomba in Western Downs +2.0 more in Toowoomba

4.4 61st pct 2.4 15th pct

15-min city in Toowoomba in Western Downs +22.8 pts higher in Toowoomba

54.1% 61st pct 31.3% 21st pct

Walk to shops in Toowoomba in Western Downs +21.0 pts higher in Toowoomba

52.9% 60th pct 31.9% 23rd pct

Walk to transit in Toowoomba in Western Downs +54.1 pts higher in Toowoomba

54.1% 57th pct 0.0% 0th pct

Walk to school in Toowoomba in Western Downs +23.5 pts higher in Toowoomba

61.0% 61st pct 37.5% 23rd pct

Walk to a park in Toowoomba in Western Downs +35.5 pts higher in Toowoomba

78.6% 62nd pct 43.2% 14th pct

Walk to health in Toowoomba in Western Downs +10.1 pts higher in Toowoomba

38.1% 51st pct 28.0% 30th pct

Amenities/1k in Toowoomba in Western Downs +0.6 more in Toowoomba

13.9 29th pct 13.4 25th pct

Intersections/km² in Toowoomba in Western Downs +1 higher in Toowoomba

2 58th pct 0 29th pct

Mean slope in Toowoomba in Western Downs +2.4 pts higher in Toowoomba

6.3% 73rd pct 3.9% 36th pct

Compare Toowoomba with nearby areas

Lockyer Valley Southern Downs Somerset Ipswich Goondiwindi South Burnett Scenic Rim Brisbane

Compare Western Downs with nearby areas

South Burnett Goondiwindi Toowoomba Cherbourg North Burnett Banana Lockyer Valley Somerset

Cite this page

Australian Bureau of Statistics. (2021). Toowoomba vs Western Downs [Census of Population and Housing]. CensusAtlas, used under CC BY 4.0. https://censusatlas.au/compare/lga/LGA36910/toowoomba/vs/LGA37310/western-downs